The Green Bay Packers have been known as a pass-first team for a very long time. Having 30 years of Hall of Fame quarterback play will do that to a team. Even when Aaron Jones, the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher, was teamed up with four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, it was the passing game that dominated Green Bay’s offensive play calls.
Now, with Jordan Love under center, the offense is a bit more balance. While Love is still a dynamic passer (he finished second in the NFL in touchdown passes last season), this year’s Packers feature the run a great deal more than they have in the past. Led by new starting running back Josh Jacobs, Green Bay has the fourth-best rushing offense in the NFL, with 149.9 yards on the ground per game.
The Green Bay Packers Have Been Without Marshawn Lloyd for Most of the Season
This dominant Packers run offense has a few new faces this year. As mentioned, Jacobs (who was signed as a free agent during the offseason) is joined by second-year running back Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks.
Notably missing from this group has been rookie running back Marshawn Lloyd, whom Green Bay drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Lloyd missed time in training camp and the first game of the regular season with a hamstring injury. When he finally did make his NFL debut in Week Two, he suffered an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve.
He has not played since.
Last week, the Packers opened up Lloyd’s practice window, which meant he returned to practice and the team had 21 days to add him to the 53-man roster.
Unfortunately, Lloyd had to have emergency surgery to have his appendix removed, creating doubt that he would be able to return yet this season.
The Green Bay Packers Have Added Marshawn Lloyd to the 53-Man Roster
Lloyd’s emergency surgery, which takes a few weeks to recover from, made Green Bay’s roster decision today all the more confusing.
Despite the fact that he will not be able to play for a while, the Packers added the rookie running back to their 53-man roster.
Packers activated MarShawn Lloyd off IR. They’ll now likely put him back on IR to re-start his clock after his appendicitis last week two days after his 21-day window opened.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 18, 2024
As Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes above, though, this is likely not a long-lasting roster move. Because they had already opened his practice window, Green Bay was unable to put him back on injured reserve unless they wanted to end his season. It is like that, after 24 hours, they will put him back on injured reserve.
He will then be forced to miss at least four more games.
Being out for four weeks still would mean Lloyd could return to the field yet his season as the Packers have seven games left to play.
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